The spread of the highly contagious livestock virus to Northern Ireland was expected to dominate a Thursday meeting between Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Officials in Northern Ireland announced Wednesday the disease had been found among imported English sheep on a farm that straddles the border with the Irish Republic. Sheep at a second farm were showing symptoms.

Ahern called the development a "huge concern" for the Irish Republic's $4.25 billion livestock industry. So far no cases have been found in the country.

Britain confirmed the disease at eight new sites Wednesday, raising the national total to 26, and Chief Veterinary Officer Jim Scudamore on Thursday said "we have got more in the pipeline."

A total of 102 British farms have been sealed off or forced to take precautions against the disease. A countrywide ban on livestock movement and an export ban are also in place.

Foot-and-mouth affects cloven-hoofed animals, but can be spread by other animals and humans. The virus, which causes weight loss and reduced dairy production, can also be airborne or contracted through contaminated feed.

Northern Ireland on Wednesday imposed a ban on the movement of farm animals other than for slaughter and canceled all livestock auctions. Police were also investigating a suspected livestock smuggling operation.

Nervous Irish Republic authorities has set up baths of disinfectant at border crossings, requiring travelers from Britain to wade through them before entering the country.

The republic has also mimicked ongoing internal British initiatives, canceling sporting events and urging countryside residents to avoid activities that could spread the disease.

Britain, meanwhile, continued to feel the economic impact of foot-and-mouth. Wholesale prices for pork and lamb have doubled in less than a week, meat distributors are scrambling to fill orders, and hundreds of livestock workers have been laid off.

Fears of the disease's spread to continental Europe were heightened Wednesday when German authorities sealed off two farms containing imported British sheep that showed signs of exposure to the virus. Tests later came up negative.

Europe continued slaughtering and incinerating animals imported from Britain as a precaution, including in the Netherlands and France. Belgium was set to begin destroying sheep and goats imported from Britain Thursday, but would not say how many.

In the first Irish cull, officials slaughtered and incinerated 200 English sheep at the infected border farm.